Thomas J.

Watson Library, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Poetry of Architecture; Or the Architecture of the Nations of Europe, Considered in

Its Association with Natural Scenery and National Character. No. 8. The Villa (Concluded.)
V. The British Villa. Hill or Brown Country. Principles of Composition
Authors(s): John Ruskin
Source: The Crayon, Vol. 1, No. 23 (Jun. 6, 1855), pp. 356-359
Published by: Thomas J. Watson Library, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25527033
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 356 THgE O Yt .A. YON.
to enter into a sort of self-examination.! ever a strange power there is in gentle of the surface generally would scarcely
Firstly, I looked at my watch, which hadness. seem to encourage one to look for water
been, I feared, spoiled the day before, but I turned back to the camp to find the nearer than the lake. But such things are
found it going all right; then at myself, fishermen returned, and highly successful. not nncommon, and so we determined to
and the result of this, I am ashamed to tellDinner discussed, we concluded to explore dig a well there. A ramble over the
in full. I was a little ragged, and a good some of the islands by way of adventure, island, which contained probably ten acres,
deal dirty?my pants were torn in one hoping to find one which we might build a disclosed many exceedingly picturesque
place, my coat in several, and my check permanent cabin on at some future time. points, and glorious little nooks with rock
shirt, with the wetting and the wear, was There was one at the distance of a mile orand tree trunks, making capital foreground
far froni the condition in which I had put so from us, which presented a rugged out study. I picked up an eagle's quill?omen
it on. Fortunately I had a change of line, and promised a pleasant situation and of good!?^and we found an eagle's nest in
41 linen," but the pants, which, beside beingprospect. On reaching it, we rowed roundone of the tall dead pines. I was surpris
torn, had received the benefit of some it, finding only one place where landing ed that in all our rambles we had never
spilled grease during some of our culinarywas practicable without risk df falling into found a serpent of any kind, though we
operations, and had also been somewhat the water. At one side a sand point, sur had believed that we were in the land of
modified by the sliding on the slippery rounded by rushes and running out into rattle-snakes, but Moodie said he had
rocks, before told of, were the only pair I the lake a dozen yards, gave us an oppor never seen one hereabouts. It was, in fact,
had with me, and were certainly in a state tunity to ground the boat, where we found a perfect artist's paradise, and we were en
very unlike what would be called creditable, a convenient slope, by which we walked up raptured with it.
in the " settlements," even. We had soap, to the top of the island?perhaps a hun We walked back to the boats in high glee,
however, and thread and needles, and as dred feet above the level of the water. and began our plans for building immedi
Angler and Student felt disposed to catchThere was an opening in the forest on the ately?designed our interior decorations,
some fresh trout for dinner, I determined side towards the falls, through which we and arranged our larder so as to have cer
to 6tayat home and repair damages, as the obtained a partial view of the upper part tain provisions always there in safety, &c.
men of war say after battle. So, when my of the lake,-with the falls in the distance, aThere was nothing to be desired but greater
comrades had gone, I went into washing, snowy cone, and the mountains beyond. facilty in reaching it; but this, we reflect
wading into the Jake by way of conve Two or three lesser islands lay before us, ed, gave us additional security against in
nience in rubbing the soap on the pants, and within a rifle shot was a group of pic trusion. So the account was balanced in onr
and then stripping, I gave shirt and pants turesque rocks, raising themselves above favor. We spent the rest of the afternoon
a good scrubbing, until I was wearied with the water, and at the moment the resting in exploring some of the bays near our
the exertion, when I hung them on stakes place of a flock of red-headed dncks, whohead-quarters, now and then starting up
before the fire, and rolling myself in my sat sunning themselves. A random shot flocks of ducks, whose glossy backs glanc
blanket, lay down on the bed and went to from the rifle of one of the guides, set the ed in the sun-light as they hurried out of
sleep, in pursuance of the resolution madewhole flock in motion, and they made a bee the dangerous propinquity. We returned
early in the morning. line for one of the smaller islands j where to camp toward sunset, in the highest spirits,
When I awoke, it was nearly noon, and they wheeled and settled. There was no and amused ourselves firing at a mark with
the fire was just smouldering in the ashes, other living tbiDg in sight?no sign of axethe guides' rifles as long as the light served.
but the warm sun, shining down in patches or man. The blue lake lay beneath us, -m

of golden light, made a fire unnecessary, and, on every side where the trees would
The Poetry of Architecture; or the Architecture
save in prospect of dinner; so draping my let us see, the mountains rolled away like of the Nations of Bur ope, considered in its
self, after the fashion of the aborigines, in immense billows. There is a monotony in Association with Natural Scenery and Na
a blanket robe, I went to darning my the Adirondacks, which prevents them from tional Cltaracter. By John Ruskin.
pants, which task I achieved in a remark being valuable picture subjects?the peaks
ably short space of time^ though I must, at have all the same curve, except here and No. 8.?THE VILLA (Concluded.)
the same time admit, that* the repairs had there one like the larger one near us, bro
reference rather to actual use than to neat ken by some convulsion of nature into a V. THE BRITISH VILLA.?HILL OE BEOWN
ness. The rents in the coat, also, were quaint form, and they are covered to their OOHNTBT.?PEINOIPLES OF COMPOSITION.
" caught up," and with my clean linen, I very summits with the unvarying mantle " Vivite contenti caaulis et collibus istis."?Juvenal.
felt quite civilized again, and pulling on myof green. There is no variety of line, such
boots, strolled off among the old trees. My as an artist loves, but there is a mighty In the Boulevard des Italiens, just at
wanderings had not carried me far when I sublimity in that very sameness, as though the turning into the Rue de la Paix, Paris,
heard a light tramp behind me, and a year some great operation of Nature had cast there stand a few dusky and withered
ling deer came up to within a few rods them up like waves, and left them there. trees, beside a kind of dry ditch, paved at
* of me,> and stopping, timidly looked at Indeed, I believe that uniformity is an es the bottom, into which a carriage can with
me for at least half a minute, and as I sential requisite of grandeur, for, though I some difficulty, descend and which affords
showed no signs of animation, he ventured have seen many mountains and hills of pic access (not in an unusual manner) to the
still nearer,, examining me studiously, when, turesque and graceful forms, there is no ground floor of a large and dreary-looking
as if satisfied that I was harmless, he turned thing which impresses me so- with the spirit house, whose passages are dark and con
away, and cantered leisurely off into the of the grand, as the immense roll of the fined, whose rooms are limited in size, and
bushes. I wonder if he knew my peace Adirondacks at their most monotonous whose windows command an interesting
able disposition towards his kind. Was points. The unity of action indicated view of the dusty streets before mentioned.
there some magnetic influence by which he makes one feel that the same impulse castThis is the town residence of one of the
learned that I had no murderous intent, or them all into their present form, acting Italian noblemen, whose country house has
wonld he, perchance, have ventured as in without fitfulness, and in perfect obedience already been figured as a beautiful example
nocently into the range of Mike's rifle? I to some inner law, while the forms which of the villas of the Lago di Como. That
will believe not, for I felt more pleasure in artists generally prefer, irregular and pic villa, however, though in one of the love
this little rencontre with a fellow-creature, turesque, give the impression of chance in liest situations that hill, and wave, and
than the keenest sportsman could have feltfluences working at intervals, and without heaven ever combined to adorn, and
in seeing him fall by the deadly rifle ball, sameness of cause. But to our island. We though itself one of the most delicious ha
or yield his life to the blood-thirsty hounds. found the point where we stood to be a bitations that luxury ever projected, or
I blessed the beautiful creature, as he camemost eligible site for a house. We had only wealth procured, is very rarely honored by
so gaily to reconnoitre the strange visitor; to clear away the small grove of Norway the presence of its master, while attractions
and I felt that the blessing, though unutpines which covered the slope towards the of a very different nature retain him, winter
tered, reached him some way, and that,mountains, to get one of the finest highland after winter, in the dark chambers of the
when he went away, it was not, at least, in views imaginable; so we scored some treesBoulevard des Italiens. This appears sin
terror of me, but in his dumb way blessing where we wanted the house to stand. gular to the casual traveller, who darts
me in return, by his fearlessness of my pre Within two hundred yards was a depres down from the dust and heat of the French
sence. And so I sat down on a fallen tree sion, at the bottom of which were indica capital, to the light and glory of the Italian
and mused?I have forgotten on what. I tions of swampy ground, and we hoped to lakes, and finds the tall marble chambers
only know that I felt more strongly than find a spring there, although the elevation and orange groves, in which he thinks,

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 THEE OEAYON. 351?
were he possessed of them, he could luxu build himself a house on the meadow of the by the author of Waverley; laying an equal
riate for ever, left desolate and neglected byRutlin, or by the farm of La Haye Sainte, veto on all the severe landscapes of such
their real owner: but, were he to try such or on the lonely isle on Loch Katrine. Of districts of minor mountain as die Scotch
a residence for a single twelvemonth, wethe j injustice of the second barbarism we Highlands and North Wales; and finishing .
believe his wonder would have greatly di have spoken already; and it is the object by setting aside all the higher sublimity of
minished at the end of the time. For the of this paper to show how it may be avoid Alp and Apennine. What, then, has it left
mind of the nobleman in question does not ed, as well as to develop the principles by us? The gentle slope of the lake shore',
differ from that of the average of men; in which we may be guided in the second and the spreading parts of the quiet valley,
asmuch as it is a well-known fact, that a question; that of ascertaining how much in almost all scenery; and the shores of the
series of sublime impressions, continued in permanent pleasure will be received from Cumberland lakes in our own, distinguish*
definitely, gradually pall upon the imagina the contemplation of a given scene. ed, as they are, by a richness of soil, which
tion, deaden its fineness of feeling, and, in It is very fortunate that the result of these
though | generally manifested only in an ex
the end, induce a gloomy and morbid several investigations Will generally be quisite softness of pasture, and roundness of
state of mind, a reaction of a peculiarly found the same. The residence, which in undulation, is sufficiently evident to place
melaucholy character, because consequent, the end, is found altogether delightful, will them out of the range of this sweeping veto.
not upon the absence of that which once be found to have.been placed where it has Now, as we have only to do with Britain,
caused excitement, but upon the failure of committed no injury; and, therefore, the at present, we shall direct particular atten
its power. This is not the case with best way of consulting our own conveni tion to the Cumberland lakes; as this is
all men; but with those over whom the ence in the end is, to consult the feelings the only district which, taken generally, is
sublimity of an unchanging scene can re of the spectator in the beginning* Now, | adapted for the villa residence^ and as every
tain its power for ever, we have nothing to the first grand rule for the choice of situa piece of scenery which in other districts is
do; for they know better than any archi tion is, never to build a villa where the so adapted, resembles them in character and
tect can, how to choose their scene, andground is not richly productive. It is not j tone.
how to add to its effect: we have only to enough that it shall be capable of produc We noticed, in speaking of the West
impress upon them the propriety of think ing a scanty crop of oats, or turnips, in amoreland Cottage^ the feeling of humility
ing before they build, and of keeping theirfine season ; it must be rich and luxuriant, with which we are impressed during a
humors under the control of their judg and glowing with vegetative power of onemountain ramble. Now, it is nearly ini
ment. It is not of them, but of the man kind or another,f' For, the very chiefest possible for a villa of large size, however
of average intellect, that we are thinkingpart of the character of the edifice of plea placed, not to disturb and interrupt this
throughout all these papers; and upon himsure is, and must be, its perfect ease, its necessary and beautiful impression, particu
it cannot be too strongly impressed, that appearance of felicitous repose. This it can larly where the scenery is on a very small
there are very few points in a hill country never have where the nature and expression scale. This disadvantage may be obviated
at all adapted for a permanent residence. of the land near it reminds us of the ne in some degree* as we shall see, by simpli
There is a kind of instinct, indeed, by cessity of labor, and where the earth is city of architecture; but another^ dependent
which men become aware of this, andniggardly of all that constitutes its beauty on a question of proportion, is inevitable.
shrink from the sterner features of hill and our pleasure; this it can only have, When an object, in which magnitude is a de
scenery into the parts possessing a human where the presence of man seems the natu sirable attribute, leaves an impression on a
interest; and thus we find the north side of ral consequence of an ample provision for practised eye, of less magnitude than it real
Lake Leman, from Yevay to Geneva, his enjoyment, not the continuous struggle ly possesses, we should place objects beside
which is about as monotonous a bit of vine of suffering .existence with a rude heaven it, of whose magnitude we can satisfy our
country as any in Europe, studded with and rugged soil. There is nobility in selves, of larger size than that which we are
villas; while the south side, which is as such a struggle, but not when it is main accustomed to; for by finding these large ob
exquisite a piece of scenery as is to be tained by the inhabitant of the villa, in jects in precisely the proportion to the grand
found in all Switzerland, possesses, wewhom it is nnnatural, and, therefore, in object, to which we are accustomed j while
think, two. The instinct, in this case, jurious in its effect. The narrow cottage we know their actual size to be one 'to
is true; but we frequently find it in error. in the desolate moor, or the stalwart hos which we are not accustomed, we become
Thus, the Lake of Oomo is the resort of pice on the crest of the Alps, each leaves aware of the true magnitude of the principal
half Italy, while the Lago Maggiore pos an ennobling impression of energy and en feature. But, where the object leaves a true
sesses scarcely one. villa of importance, durance; but the possessor of the villa impression of its size on the practised eye,
besides those on the Borromean Islands. should call, not upon our admiration, but we shall do harm by rendering minor objects
Yet the Lago Maggiore is far better adapt upon our sympathy; and its function is to either larger or smaller than they usually
ed for Droducinsr and sustaining a Dleasur deepen the impression of the beauty and the are. When the object leaves an impression
able impression than that of Oorao. The fullness of creation, not to exhibit the ma of greater magnitude than it really pos
first thing, then, which the architect has to jesty of man; to show in the intercourse of sesses, we must render the minor objects
do in hill country is, to bring his employer earth and her children, not how her severity smaller than they usually are, to prevent
down from heroics to common sense; tomay be mocked by their heroism, but how her our being undeceived. Now, a mountain
teach him that, although it might be very bounty may be honored in their enjoyment. of 15,000 feet high always looks lower
well for a man like Pliny, whose whole This position being once granted, will than it really is; therefore, the -larger the
spirit and life was wrapt up in that of Na save us a great deal of trouble, for it will buildings near it are?renderedf the better.
ture, to set himself down under the splashput out of our way, as totally unfit for villa Thus, in speaking of the Swiss cottage,'it
of a cascade 400 feet high, such escapades residence, nine-tenths of all monntain sce was observed that a building of the size of v
are not becoming in English gentlemen; nery ; beginning with such bleak and stony St. Peter's in its place, would exhibit the
and that it is necessary, for his own satis bits of hill-side as that which was me size of the mountains more truly and strik
faction, as well as that of others, that he tamorphosed into something like a forest ingly. A mountain 7,000 feet high strikes
should keep in the most quiet and least its impression with great truth, we are de
For instance, one proprietor terrifies the landscape ceived on neither side; therefore, the
pretending corners of the landscape which all*around him, within a range of three, miles, by the
he has chosen. conspicuous position of his habitation; and is punished building near it should be of the average
Having got his employer well under con1byblow, finding that from whatever quarter the wind may size: and thus, the villas of the Lago di
it sends in some of his plate-glass. Another
trol, he has two points to consider. First, spoils a pretty bit of crag, by building below it, and Corao, being among hills from 5*600 to
where he will spoil least; and secondly, has two or three tons of. stone drop through his roof 8,000 feet high, are well proportioned, be
the first frosty night. Another occupies the turfy slope ing neither colossal nor diminutive; but a
where he will gain most. N*ow, he may of some soft lake promontory, and has his cook washed
spoil a landscape in two ways, either by away by the first flood. We do not remember ever mountain 3,000 feet high always, looks
destroying an association connected with it, having seen a dwelling-house destroying the effect of a higher than it-really is*; therefore, the
landscape, of which, considered merely as a habitation,
or a beauty inherent in it. With the first we should wish to be the possessor.
barbarism we have nothing to do, for it ia t We are not thinking of the effect upon the human * This position, as well as the two" preceding, is Inir
of the air which is favorable to vegetation. Chemi portant, and in need of confirmation. It has often
one which would not be permitted on a frame cally considered, the bracing breeze of the more ste? been observed, that, when the eye is altogether un
large scale, and even if it were, could.not rile soil is the most conducive to health, and is practical:: practised in estimating elevation, it believes every
point to be lower than it really is: but this does not
be perpetrated by any man of the slightest But
ly so, when the frame is not perpetually exposed to it.
the keenness which checks the growth of the heart ig, militate against the proposition, for, it is also well
education. No one, having any preten in all probability, trying, tq say the least, tq the cpnstlr \ known, that the higher the point, the greater the de- *>
ception. But when the eye is thoroughly practised in
sions to be called a human being? would| Jution of the resident.

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 358 THE O-K-A. YO'aST."
buildings near it should be smaller than the boulders of an Alpine foreground, and the oughly rooted out, and the cottage-villa '
average. And this is what is meant by leaps of an Alpine stream, are as much will become a beautiful and interesting ele
the proportion of objects; namely, render larger than the boulders, and as bolder thanment of our landscape.
ing them of such relative size as shall pro the leaps, of a Cumberland foreground and So much for size. Thes question of po-'
duce the greatest possible impression of torrent, as the.Jungfrau is higher than the sition need not detain us so long, as the
those attributes which are most desirableSkid daw. Therefore, if we take Care of principles advanced previously are true
in both. It is not the true, bnt the desira the near effect in any country, we need generally, with one exception. Beautiful
' ble.impression which is to be conveyed ; never be afraid of the distant. For these and calm the situation must always be,
aiid it must not be in one, but in both; the reasons, the cottage villa, rather than the but, in England, not conspicuous. In Italy,
building must not be overwhelmed by the mansion, is to be preferred among our hills the dwelling of the descendants of those'-'
mass of the mountain, nor the precipice It has been preferred in many instances, whose former life has bestowed on every
mocked by the elevation of the cottage. and in too many, with an unfortunate re scene the greater part of the majesty
(Proportion of color is a question of quire sult; for the cottage villa is precisely that which it possesses, ought to have a dignity
a different nature, dependent merely on ad which affords the greatest scope for prac inherent in it, which would be shamed by
mixture and combi nation). For these rea tical absnrdity. Symmetry, proportion, shrinking back from the sight of men, andf
sons, buildings of a very large size are deci and some degree of simplicity, are usually majesty enough to prevent such non-retire
dedly destructive of effect among the English kept in view in the large building; but inment from becoming, intrusive; but the
lakes: first, because apparent altitudes are the smaller, the architect considers him spirit of the English landscape is simple, and
much.diminished by. thera: and, secondly, self licensed to try all sorts of experiments, pastoral and mild, devoid, also, of high
because whatever position they may be and jumbles together pieces of imitation, associations (for, in the Highlands and
placed in, instead of combining with scene taken at random from his note-book, asWales^ almost every spot which has the
ry, they occupy and overwhelm it; for all carefully as a bad chemist mixing elemepts, pride of memory is nnfit-for villa resi
scenery is divided into pieces, each of whichfrom which he may by accident obtain dence) ; and, therefore, all conspicuous ap
has a near bit of beauty, a promontory something new, though the chances are pearance of its more wealthy inhabitants
of lichened crag, or a smooth swarded ten to one that he obtains something use becomes ostentation, not dignity; impu
knoll, or something of the kind to begin less ! The chemist, however, is more inno dence, not condescension. Their dwelling
with. Wherever the large villa comes, it cent than the architect; for the one throws ought to be just evident, and no more-as
take,s up one of these beginnings of land his trash out of the window if the com forming part of the gentle animation, and
scape altogether; and the parts of crag or pound fail, while the other always thinks present prosperity, which is the beauty of
woods which ought to combine with it, be his conceit too good to be lost. Thecultivated ground. And this partial con
come subservient to it, and lost in its gen great one cause of all the errors in this cealment may be effected without any sacri
eral effect; that is ordinarily, in a general branch of architecture is, the principle of fice of the prospect which the proprietor
effect of ugliness. This should never be the imitation, at once the most baneful and the will insist upon commanding from his win
case; however intrinsically beautiful themost unintellectual, yet, perhaps, the most dows, and with great accession to his per
edifice may be, it should assist, but not su natural that the human mind can encourmanent enjoyment. For, first, the only
persede; join, but not eclipse; appear, but age or act upon* Let it once be thor prospect which is really desirable or delight
hpt intrude. The general rule by which tals of almost all the rarer minerals are larger in the ful, is that from the window of the break
we ^re to determine the size is, to select larger mountain; and that altogether independently fast-room. This is rather a bold position,
the largest mass which will not overwhelmof the period of elevation, which in the case of Mont but it will appear evident on a little con
Blanc, is later than that of our own Mendeps.
any object of fine form, within two hun * We noticed previously the kind of error most common sideration. It is pleasant enough to have a
dred yards of it; and, if it does not do in amateur designs, and we traced that error to its first pretty little bit visible from the bed-roOms;
this, we may be quite sure it is not toogreat cause, the assumption of the humor, instead of but, after all, it only makes gentlemen cut
the true character, for a guide; but we did not suffi
large for the distant features; for it is one ciently specify the mode in which that first cause opera themselves in shaving, and ladies never
of Nature's most beautiful adaptations, that ted, by prompting to imitation. By imitation we do think of anything beneath the sun when
not mean accurate copying, neither do we mean work
6he is never out of proportion with her ing under the influence of the feelings by which we they are dressing. Then, in the dining
self; that is, the minor details of scenerymay suppose the originators of a given model to have room, windows are absolutely useless, be
been actuated; but we mean the intermediate step of en
of the first class bear exactly the propor deavoring to combine old materials in a novel manner. cause dinner is always uncomfortable by
tion to the same species of detail in scene True, copying may be disdained by architects, but it daylight, and the weight of furniture effect,
ry of the second class, that the large fea ings of thebetime
should not disdained by nations; for, when the feel which adapts the room for the gastronomic
in which certain styles had their ori
tures of the first bear to the large features gin have passed away, any examples of the same style sites, renders it detestable as a sitting-room.
of the second. Every mineralogist knows will invariably be failures, unless they be copies. It is In the library, people should have some
utter absurdity to talk of building Greek edifices now; no
that the. quartz of the St. Gothard is as man ever will, or can, who does not believe in the Greek thing else to do, than looking out of the
much larger in its crystal than the quartzmythology; and, precisely by so much as he diverges windows; in the drawing-room, the un
of Snowdon, as the peak of the one moun we from the technicality of strict copyism, he will err. But comfortable stillness of the quarter of an
ought to have pieces of Greek architecture, as we have
tain overtops the peak of the other; and reprints of the most valuable records, and it is better hour before dinner may, indeed, be allevi
that the crystals of the Andes are larger build a new Parthenon than to set up the old one. ated by having something to converse about
to
than either.^ Every artist knows'that theLet the dust and the desolation of the Acropolis be undis
turbed for ever; let them be left to the school of our at the windows: but it is very shameful to
moral feelings, no't of our mechanical perceptions; the spoil a prospect of any kind, by looking at
mountain measurement, although the judgment, argu line and rule of the prying carpenter should not come it when we are not ourselves in a state of
ing from technical knowledge, gives a true result, the into the quiet and holy places of the earth. Elsewhere,
impression on the feelings is always at variance with we may build marble models for the education of the corporal comfort and mental good humor,
it, except in hills of the middle height. We are per national mind and eye; but it is useless to think of which nobody can be after the labor of the
petually astonished, in our own country, by the sublime adapting the architecture of the Greek to the purposes day, and before he has been fed. But the
impression left by such hills as Skiddaw, or Cader Idris, of the Frank: it never has been done, and never will
or Ben Venue; perpetually vexed, in Switzerland, be. We delight, indeed, in observing the rise of such breakfast-room, where we meet the first
by finding that, setting aside circumstances.of form a building as La Madeleine: beautiful because accurate light of the dewy day, the first breath of the
and color, the abstract impression of elevation is (ex ly copied ; useful, as teaching the eye of every
cept in somei "moments' of peculiar effect, worth a king's passer-by But we must not think of its purpose; it
ransom), inferior'Jo the truth. We were standing the is wholly unadapted for Christian worship; and, were convinced that in this Art, as in all others, they cannot
other day on the slope of the Breyent, above the it as bad Greek as our National Gallery, it would be seem what they cannot be. The scarlet coat or the
. Prieure of Chamouni, with a companion well practised equally unfit. The mistake of our architects in general turned-down collar which the obsequious portrait
in climbing highland hills, but a stranger among the is, that they.fancy they are speaking good English by painter puts on the shoulders and off the necks of his
Alps. Pointing out a rock above the Glacier des Bosr speaking bad Greek. We wish, therefore, that copying savage or insane customers, never can make the 'pren
sons, we requested an opinion of its height.' ." t should were more in vogue than it is. But imitation, the en tice look military, or the idiot poetical; and the archi
think," was the reply, ** I could climb it ih two steps; deavor to be Gothic, or Tyrolese, or Venetian, without tectural appurtenances of Norman embrasure, or Ve
but I am too well used to hills to be taken fn in that the slightest grain of Gothic or Venetian feeling; the ronaic balcony must be equally ineffective, until they
way ; it is at least 40 feet." The real height was 47u futile effort to splash a building into age, or daub it can turn shop-keepers into barons, and school-girls
feet. This deception is attributable to several tsauses, into dignity; to*zigzag It into sanctity, or slit it into Into Juliets. Let the national mind be educated in its
(independently of the.clearness of the medium through i ferocity, when its"shell is neither ancient or dignified, character, and it will naturally become pure in its con
which the object is seen), which it would be out of and its spirit neither-priestly nor baronial; this is the ceptions ; let it be simple in its desires, and it will be
place tq discuss here, but the chief of which is the natu degrading "vice of the age;' fostered, as if man's reason beautiful in its ideas; let it be modest in feeling, and it
ral tendency of the feelings always io 'believe objects were but a step between the brains of a kitten and a will not be insolent in stone. For architect and for em
subtending the same angle tohe'of the same height. monkey, in the mixed love of despicable excitement and ployer, there can be but one rule ; to be natural in all
We say the feelings, not the eye; for tf practised 'eye miserable mimicry: If th e English' have no imagination that they do, and to look for the beauty of the mate
never betrays its possessor, though the due and cor they should'not *corn to be commonplace^ or'rAthar, rial creation as they would for that of the human form,
responding mental Impression is not received. that they should remember :that poverty cannot be'dis not in the chanceful and changing disposition of arti
guised by beggarly borrowing, though it may "be erfno. B^cjal decoration, but in the manifestations of the pure
* This is rather a bold assertion ; and we should be bled by calm independence. Our national architecture ind anj/nating spirit which keeps it from the coldness
jorry to maintain the fact as universal; but the crys aever will improve until our population are generally :>f ' ' ' the
n * *gr&ye.

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 0

THE O B, ^l Y O IN-. 359

morning air,the first glance of gentle eyes; ------llB-IUmBy ihl the degree in which the painter is~natu-'
to which we descend m the very spring and ral." .- - -. ".-.:- ....--. --.?;. . _.-..
elasticity of mental renovation and bodily
energy, in the gathering up of our spirit for LESLEE'S HAND BOOK FOE YOTJWG PAIN
That an artist really capable of feeling
the new day, in the flush of our awakening TERS. the spiritual in Art could be guilty of
making such a comment, we cannot think
from the darkness and the mystery of faint
and inactive dreaming, in the resurrection Although it may be stated as a general
possible. Is there, then, no distinction be
truth, that none but an artist can be a tween the spiritual and natural? It is no
from our daily grave, in the first tremulous
better than a quibble, to ask if it be "pos-v
sensation of the beauty of our being, in the teacher of Art, it does not necessarily fol
low that every artist is a capable teacher. sible to express the spiritual by any other:
most glorious perception of the lightning
medium than the natural," because Mr.;
of our life; then, indeed, our expatiationMost artists work by an intuition, indicat
ing their result, and at the same time, theLeslie, as well as any other, knows that *
of spirit, when it meets the pulse of out
ward sound and joy, the voice of bird, andmeans by which it is to be attained, while there is a difference between those;worts;
breeze, and billow, does demand some power they have not the slightest perception ofwhich make the expression of Spirit tnbr
end of Art, and those in whom the extern'
of liberty, some space for its going forth the principles by which their result is really nal and its attributes predominate oyer
into the morning, some freedom of inter shaped, nor could they give a satisfactory
Spirit. It is true, that in all his color,
course with the lovely and limitless energy reason for a single thing they do. This is Oorreggio
of creature and creation. The breakfast well enough so far as their works are is refined, but the artist who can
room must have a prospect, and an extensive concerned, but in leading minds young not distinguish between the feeling dis
played in the color of Oorreggio and that of
one: the Hyson and hot-roll are indiscussa in Art into its mysteries, the clearest per
Fra Angelico, may well despair of compre
ble, except under such sweet circumstances. ception of its fundamental principles is in
dispensable, and an artist who has not this, hending the spiritual in Art. But her
But he must be an awkward architect, who
cannot afford an opening to one windowcan only teach manner, and make his pupils other shows still more fully his blindness by an
passage, which we quote :?
without throwing the whole mass of the imitations of himself. It is not enough
building open to public view; particular that he should unconsciously have applied " Frarfcia; cannot be classed with the mediae
those principles rightly in one direction,
ly as, in the second place, the essence of a but he must be able to follow them out inval painters, as he was contemporary, with
good window view, is the breaking out of Raphael; still, he is a painter whom it is at
any direction, with the ability to indicatepresent much the fashion, with' the advocates
the distant features in little well-composed
their true realization in whatever way. for the imitation of early Art, to praise.
morceaux, not the general glare of a mass
of one tone. Have we a line of lake? the Mr. Leslie demonstrates this position . " His two pictures in our gallery, are, perhapaf,
silver water must glance out here andconclusively. A highly successful artist, innot fair specimens of his style* for the medio-"
a limited range, he owes his success to a crity that pervades them, as well in character
there among the trunks of near trees, just and sentiment,,as in every other qualify, is re
enough to show where it flows; then keen intuition, rather than to a knowledge deemed only by the head of the Saviour, in the
of the principles of Art, and in fact made
break into an open swell of water, just a grand mistake when he ventured on the arched one, which is very fine, and the more
where it i3 widest, or where the shore striking by its contrast to the red-eyed angels
is prettiest. Have we mountains ? their field of authorship. When we see a man on either side?for both of which the painter's
do a thing really well, we are inspired with lay figure might have served as a model. 'Never
peaks must appear over foliage, or through
a certain faith in his general abilities, whichtheless, as I have heard the entire treatment of .i
it, the highest and boldest catching the eye
conspicuously, yet not seen from basewe retain so long as he does not show us, these pictures highly commended by critics,
to summit, as if we wanted to measure by actual failure, that there are some things who would almost exclude Raphael from among
he cannot do. Leslie, as the author, be religious painters, I would ask anybody ac
them. Such a prospect as this is always quainted with Art?any one except a bigoted
compatible with as much concealment as trays the ignorance of Aj*t, which, as a devotee to the earlier masters, to turn from the
painter, we should never have attributed to
we choose. In all these pieces of manage silver purity of Correggio, to the Francias, and
ment, the architect's chief enemy is the him. He shows that he is superficial, not tell line whether he does hot feel how common,
by negative testimony, but by certain grave
vanity of his employer, who will always how toneless, and how hard their color is, com
and palpable errors of statement, which no
want to see more than he ought to see, and
than he will have pleasure in seeing, with
man could have made who was possessed pared to that of Correggio.; I use the expression
hard, for color may be hard, and always is '"so
of a genuine insight into the arcana of Art. when destitute of the gradations and subtle va
out reflecting how the spectators pay for
his peeping. He perpetually confuses form with sub rieties of tint, which are inseparable from it in
So much, then, for position. "We havestance?method with sentiment, and indi Nature." ; .J
now only to settle the questions of formcates that beyond a certain point he is in Doubtless, no admirer of Francia would
and color, and we shall then have closed capable of following the great works he think of comparing him with Oorreggio in
the most tiresome investigation which we treats of. For instance, in the following color or chiaroscuro; but Leslie is guilty of
passage, there is an almost unaccountable
shall be called upon to enter into; inas gross critical injustice, in dragging Francia,
much as the principles which we may obtuseness of perception :? a religious painter, to the standard of Oor
arrive at in considering the architecture "A modern, accomplished, and eloquent reggio, a naturalist?if not a sensualist^
of defence, though we hope they maywriter (Lord Lindsay), following a notion of and because he does, not find the former
be useful in -.the abstract, will demand no Blake, deprecates, for instance, the occasional compare with the latter in the above
application to native landscape, in which softening of the outline, by comparing it to named characteristics, justifies his exalta
happily, no defence is now required; and 8 that lax morality which confounds the limits of tion of Oorreggio by ignoring the spiritual
light and darkness, right and wrong.' Not
those relating to sacred edifices will, we being a painter, he is not aware that he is here dignity of Francia. And again, in sneak
also hope, be susceptible of more interest objecting to the truest imitation of Nature. ing of Blake he says:? .. '.'-A*!:'
than can possibly be excited by the most Again, he says, ' We find the purest and "The truth is, Blake had attempted, the imi
degraded branch of the whole Art of archi brightest colors only in Fra Angelico's pictures tation of those natural qualities of Art so often
tecture, one hardly worthy of being includedwith a general predominance of blue, which we denounced as ornamental and sensual. He had
under the name; that, namely, with which have observed to prevail more or less in so suffered, as he said, from * temptations and per
we have lately been occupied, whose os many of the semi-Byzantine painters; and turbations, destructive of imaginative power, by
tensible object is the mere provision of which, fanciful as it may appear, I cannot butmeans of that infernal machine, called,chiaro
, shelter and comfort for the despicable attribute, independently of mere tradition, to an scuro, in the'hands of Venetian and Flemish
shell within whose darkness and corruption inherent, instinctive sympathy between their demons, who hate the Roman and Florentine
that purity of perception to which all highmental constitution and the color in question, schools.' These temptations led him to ex
Art is addressed is, during its immaturity, as that of red, or of blood, may be observed to periments, in which he failed, and by a conse
confined. prevail among painters in whom. Sense or Na quence which he did not Kee, he failed in an
ture predominates over spirit.'--* * * Then adequate expression of his conceptions, many of
again, a distinction seems,,implied, in the pas? which are beautiful, and are the emanations, of
Mr. Baily's statue of the Lord Chief Justice sage I have quoted, between t^e spiritual and one of the purest and most Bin cere of minds;
Mansfield, of the fine proportions and artistic the Natural, as if it were ppssibje to express while Stpthard, a far greater, because, as a
merits of which our readers have already heard, the spiritual ty ,any qtjier mediurp' than the painter, a far wiser man than Blake, by avail
is now in Westminster Hall, preparatory to its natura], A painter, it is true, may be very ing himself of the assistance of everything ex*
erection among the other statues in the vest;* natural without being spiritual, but that which celJent in previous Art?:which his just mind
bule of the Houses of Parliament.?Athenqnim. is spiritual in Art can only be fully developedcould always separate from the objecjipjiajle)

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